Palukanda Nathar Temple / Sri Baluganda Nathar Temple / Sri Paalugantha Nathar Temple / திருவாய்பாடி ஸ்ரீ பாலுகந்த நாதர் திருக்கோவில்/ Thiruvaipadi, Thiruvoippadi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 94^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 40^th sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Veerakkan and Thiru Aaipadi during ancient times and now called as Thiruvoippadi.

In Periya Puranam sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasar worshiped Lord Shiva of Omampuliyur and came to this temple. Since he has not mentioned separately, but records 16 temples between Thirvalampuram to Thirukolambam as other temples on the way. Since this temple is in between that 16 temple we had taken that he Visited this temple also.

மேவுபுனல் பொன்னி இரு கரையும் சார்ந்து

        விடை உயர்ந்தார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி பாடிக்

காஉயரும் மயிலாடுதுறை நீள் பொன்னிக்

        கரைத்துருத்தி வேள்விகுடி எதிர்கொள்பாடி

பாஉறு செந்தமிழ்மாலை பாடிப் போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருப்பதி பலவும் பணிந்து போந்தே

ஆஉறும் அஞ்சு ஆடுவார் கோடிகாவில்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Aiyadigal Kadavarkon and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

கடலகம் ஏழினோடும் பவனமும் கலந்த விண்ணும்

உடலகத்து உயிரும்பாரும் ஒள்ளழல் ஆகிநின்று

தடமலர்க் கந்தமாலை தண்மதி பகலுமாகி

மடலவிழ் கொன்றைசூடி மன்னுமாப் பாடியாரே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

உள்ளிடத்தான் வல்லையே நெஞ்சமே! ஊழ்வினைகள்

கள்ளிடத்தான் வந்து கலவாமுன் – கொள்ளிடத்தின்

தென்திரு ஆப்பாடியின் தெய்வமறை நான்கினையும்

தன்திருவாய்ப் பாடியான் தாள்

....... ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்

                                                                            --“தினந்தாளிற்

சூழ் திருவாய்ப் பாடியங்கு சூழ்கினு மாமென்றுலகர்

வாழ் திருவாய்ப் பாடியின்ப வாரிதியே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Baluganda Natha Swami, Sri Balugandheeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Birugandha Nayagi, Sri Periyanayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are........

The temple is facing east with an entrance  arch / Rajagopuram base. Rishabam and balipeedam are immediately after the entrance. Lord Shiva is in the form of Swayambhu Shiv Lingam. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar with Mahavishnu & Brahma are on both sides, Brahma and Durgai. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum and artha mandapam. Front mandapam is of vavval nethi style mandapam. 

In prakaram Bhairavar, Suryan , Chandran, Saneeswarar, Chandikeswarar, Moovar, Vinayagar with two Amman and Natarajar. Chandikeswarar is in a separate sannadhi next to Shiva’s Sannadhi. A Shivalinga is found under the Sthala vruksham. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi in standing posture.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original brick temple was existed before 7^th Century built by Pallavas ( Aiyadigal Kadavarkon, one of the 63 Nayanmar, who has sung on Lord Shiva was a Chieftain in Pallava Dynasty ). The temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha’s period and further extended by Pandyas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Chokka kooththar, Natarajar and Thiru Aappadi Udayar.

The available inscriptions belongs to Rajaraja-II, Kulothunga Chozha –III, Pandya King Jadavarman Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Sundara Pandyan, Pallava King Sakala Bhuvana Chakravarthy Koperunchingan, Vijayanagara Kings Veera Pokkanna Uday’s Son Ariappa Udayar and Devaraya’s son Mallikarjuna Mahadevar.

Rajarajan-II, period inscription records that a Procession path was created for Thiruvoipadi Udayar ( This Temple )  and Thiruthadagai Eecharam Udayar temples for theerthavari, in Kollidam River, in the name of Rajakambeeran Thiruveethi. This inscription is at Tiruthadagai eecharamudayar Temple at Thiruppanandal Temple. 

Rajarajan-II period inscription records the gift of land fro Thaipoosam and Kulothunga Chozha period inscription records the donations made to Chokka Kooththar, by Mizhalai nattu Senganur ( சேய்ஞலூர் ), Uyyakkonda Pillai.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1961, on 22^nd August 2004 and 12^th December 2010

LEGENDS

Chandikeswarar legend is is closely associated with this temple. Chandikeswara, as an Young boy Visara Sarumanr  belongs to Seinganur about a KM away from this Temple / place. He was taught Vedas at the age of 7. He was forced to take up the job of shepherding, when a shepherd,  was beating his cow and Calf. He used to bring the cows to Thiruvoipadi for grazing. After leaving the cows for grazing Visara Sarumar used to make Shiva Linga, out of sand and start worshiping. He milked from the Cows and do abhishekam, too. But the Cows gave milk more than before, due to affectionate behaviour.

The Shepherd watched his activities and told the owners and Visara Sarumar’s father, that he is milking cows and pouring on the sand. On seeing Visara Sarumar doing pooja to sand Shiva Linga, doing abhishekam with milk, his father got angry. He kicked of the sand Shiva Linga and the pot. Angered Visara Sarumar, took the stick and throw it on his father’s leg. The stick turned to Mazhu and cuts the leg.  Seeing his devotion Lord Shiva with Parvati appeared and blessed. One step further Lord Shiva garlanded on his head with flower that he wears and elevated him as Chandikeswarar to take care of his wealth. Visara Saumar attained Mukti at this place. 

Since, the Legends are associated with Cow and milk, Lord Shiva is called as "Paal Ukantha nathar" and the place obtained the name of Thiru Aapadi ( Aa – Cow ), the same corrupted to the present name of Thiruvoipadi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on new moon days, monthly pradosham, Maha Shivaratri and Brahmotsavam for Chandikeswarar on the full moon day after Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb- March ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ),

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The Temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hra and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukkal Balugantha Nathar may be contacted on his Mobile number +91 94421 67104, for further details.

HOW TO REACH: 

This place is on the Kumbakonam to Thiruppanandal bus route after Senganur. Also on the bus route from Chennai, Villupuram to Kumbakonam 2.5 KM after Thiruppanandal.

The temple is 2.5 KM from from Thiruppanandal, 17.5 KM from Kumbakonam, 31.5 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 57 KM from Thanjavur, 55 KM from Chidambaram and 291 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE  TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---